Everson, whose career working in or with the White House dates back to the Reagan administration, wants to reinstate the draft and eliminate the federal income tax.

In a complaint filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission, Everson argues that Fox News may have broken election laws by failing to adhere to consistent standards in determining who would make the debate stage. The news organization changed its methodology several times before the final candidates were selected.

Fox News originally declared a minimum standard of 1 percent support in an average of five national polls, but did away with that standard last week, leaving no objective minimum qualification to participate in the debate.

"We had tried to reach fox, but they didn't return our phone calls or acknowledge or letter, so we felt there was no choice," Everson said.

The Federal Election Commission did not have time to process the complaint before the Fox debate, Everson said, but he hopes the action will encourage future debate sponsors to consider outside candidates.

If Everson is to have any chance to influence the 2016 election, televised appearances will be vital. Everson said Thursday that eliminating unconventional candidates harms the democratic process.

"I think its important that . . . the American people have access to non-traidtional candidates other than politicians or wealthy, well known figures," Everson said. "Think about a major university president or a retired admiral or general or cabinet officer who seeks to enter race, knocking that person out of the field when they are just starting a campaign seems to set a very bad precedent for democracy."

Everson did not make a trip to Cleveland this week. On Thursday he was home with family in Mississippi, a campaign spokesman said.

This article was updated at 2:58 p.m. to include direct comments from Candidate Mark Everson.